Tools for Distributed Teamwork and Rapid Adaptation to Change: COVID-19 and Frontline Learning

摘要

In dramatic fashion, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the resilience and adaptability of frontline health care teams in responding to disruptions in nearly every aspect of care delivery. The pandemic provides us an opportunity to reflect on ways to unleash the creative power of health care professionals, who are highly trained and selfmotivated. It is often said that the only constant in life is change, yet organizations often lack deliberate strategies to support and empower frontline teams in their efforts to cope and adapt to changes. The article by Stickney and colleagues 1 in this issue of the Journal should prompt us to think about the tools frontline teams need to be agile and resilient. The perioperative team at MaineHealth was able to design and implement a new workflow in just four days with the aid of a learning management system, even when the team was not able to meet in person, and practice guidelines (if available) were changing rapidly.